Headache and transient ischemic attacks.

Headache and Transient Ischemic A Hacks • Headache occurring in association with episodes of transient cerebral ischemia has not been emphasized as part of the symptom complex. In an effort to ascertain the frequency and characteristics of these headaches and to determine whether there is any localizing, diagnostic, or prognostic significance to them, the records of 240 TIA patients were reviewed. We concluded that headache is a prominent symptom in 25% of patients with TIA and that there were no distinguishing population characteristics, arteriographical findings or prognostic features among patients whose TIAs were accompanied by headache. The locations and temporal relationships of headache occurring in cases of carotid and vertebrobasilar TIA also were compared. Additional Key Words amaurosis fugax carotid ischemia vertebrobasilar insufficiency subclavian steal • Headache is a frequent premonitory symptom of cerebral ischemia. 1 " Andrell 1 reported headache as an early symptom in three of nine cases of internal carotid thrombosis. This association was later confirmed by Fisher 2 and Wells. 3 Similar observations have been made with regard to vertebrobasilar in-sufficiency. 4 Despite these reports, the occurrence of headache in association with other symptoms of transient cerebral ischemia has received little attention. The objectives of this communication are: (1) to study the frequency, location, and temporal relationships of headaches which occurred in association with other symptoms of transient cerebral ischemia, and (2) to compare such patients in terms of population characteristics, angiographical findings, and prognosis with the larger TIA population from which these cases were drawn.